Tuesday, September 18, 2012

The Tardis Bag - A love story in 3 parts

My friend Kendra sent me the most wonderful picture a couple of weeks ago:

As a longtime Dr. Who fan, I totally freaked out. She had turned the London Crochet Bag into a Tardis! I emailed her and pretty much demanded that she tell me what she did so that I could make one myself (LOL!) and so that I could share the pattern with you! And being the sweetheart that she is, she sent me her pattern.

I, of course, made one and loved it! My only issue was that I wanted to be able to carry it as a purse, but the LCB (if you've made the bag you'll know) is kinda huge for every-day use. So I've made a smaller version as well. (Either one would make an excellent trick-or-treat bag...)

This is my version of Kendra's bag!

Only, I got it in my head that I wanted to line the bag, so I've given you the option of making it with a button, or with a magnetic snap closure. Whew! So, that's why this love story is broken into 3 parts. Today I'm giving you the patterns for the Main Bag (Original LCB size - pattern by Kendra Harris, Purse Size with Button, and Purse Size with lining). In the next post, I'll give you the pattern for the strap, and then in the last post I'll be doing the lining instructions (including some fun with the knit picker!).

And, as the Tenth Doctor said (in Fear Her), “There’s a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive… wormhole refractors… You know the thing you need most of all? You need some yarn to hold.” **

**I may have mis-quoted here... It was really 'You need a hand to hold' but that didn't make my argument very well, did it?

Supplies:
Blue Worsted Weight Yarn ( I used Caron One Pound 100% acrylic in Royalty, but you could also use Red Heart Super Saver in Royal)
Size G hook
Small amount of Worsted Weight Yarn in White and Black (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in White and Black)

Make Button following original London Crochet Bag instructions using white yarn. Using buttonhole as a guide, center and sew on button.

There was a lot of confusion with the original London Crochet Bag about Row 51. I took pictures as I did R51 on this bag, so that you can see exactly what I'm talking about. I'm left handed, so for you righties, imagine the stitches in the 3rd picture on the other side... :D

This is where we leave off on R50

ch 10 (actually this one is for the smaller sized bag, so it's a 5 ch, but you get the idea)

hdc across all stitches of R50...

And then more chain stitches on the other side!
Now you're all set for R52 with 61 stitches on your row!
(Or in the case of this picture, 41)

And now, for the smaller, Purse-Sized Tardis patterns!

The Purse-Sized Tardis Bag with Button...
It's bigger on the inside...

Tardis Bag - Purse Sized with Button
Approx. size: 11" tall x 8 1/2" wide x 3" deep
Supplies:
Blue Worsted Weight Yarn ( I used Caron One Pound 100% acrylic in Royalty, which will make two purse sized bags from one skein. It's a little 'slubby' but if you don't mind the lumps every once in a while, the price is right. Otherwise, use a royal blue in Red Heart Super Saver.)
Size F hook
Small amount of Worsted Weight Yarn in White and Black (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in White and Black)

And, for all of you following at home, the Captcha is off for the next week! Let's see what happens! Fun experiments for everyone! And double Dynamo points for a heads-up if something spammy or offensive gets posted. I'll pull it as soon as I see it.

37 comments:

Holy cow! You have been extremely busy! That's an awesome pattern by Kendra and I love the mods you made to get a purse size out of it! A lot of work must have gone into the planning. I have never made a bag or purse but am interested in all the things you can do to it like lining, zippers, etc. so I'll be watching these posts!

SQUEEEEEE!!!!!! (that is the sound my mind/heart is making as it pops.... and I can't make any actual out-loud noise b/c I'm at work and on the reference desk (don't tell anyone I'm on here while "working"!) which is in the "public" area of my library...)

TARDIS, oh how I love thee! I haven't even watched hardly any of the new Dr.Who's -- I'm still back in Tom Baker land.... but all of the new ones are on my someday-watch list - will have to start with the Chris Eccleston ones and work my way up eventually....

Hey ETF! I watched all the Tom Baker episodes with my dad! I want to make his scarf and carry my personal sized Tardis as my Halloween costume this year. It would be awesome to be The Doctor!How funny! Jake and I have been working our way through the new episodes on Netflix. Chris Eccleston is delightful! You will totally dig them.xoxo ETF

OMG!!!!!! I have to make this for my daughter for Christmas (and being the good daughter she is I'm sure she will share with her mommy...right?) I've gotton both her (10) and her brother (7) hooked on Dr. Who. And I know just what to put in the bag first! Over in England they have a lego knock off company that makes Dr. Who lego, and I've ordered a whole bunch off Ebay for them for Christmas.

They are put out by a company called "Character Building". Not "real" lego but I had a sneak peak in one of the sets and to be honest i don't see any difference in quality to the real stuff. I don't have a credit card so i had to buy off ebay. (you just have to keep looking for someone who is not trying to rip you off price wise)here's the web address.www.characterbuilding.eu

The bags look great Jaime! I've never had my work shared before, it's a humbling and exciting experience. I'm making 2 more bags for my cousins for Christmas and planned on lining them, so I'm super excited to learn how! Also, I really like how you did the straps. I didn't think of doing a second/reinforcing strap, but I will for my cousins' bags. One word:FANTASTIC!

Kendra, I adore you!!! You have no idea how long I agonized over why the bag turned out so differently for you... I am so glad to have an answer now. :D And now I want to make one in the 'cheat' stitch, because your bags turned out sooooo cute!!!xo Jaime

Hello. Just stumbled on this from pinterest and as a fan and maker of Tardis crochet items, this is by far the best looking of the bunch in regards to bags/purses!! I am stoked at how I am ready to grab my hook and yarn and begin this!!!

I am currently working on several orders of Tardis Fingerless gloves and I have been staring at this bag for the past 30 mins!!

Tell Kendra she rocks and if she or you can, you should totally put this on ravelry. People will freak!!

Hi nettagyrl! Thanks so much! I will send Kendra an email, I think she rocks too! You totally cracked me up, I'm sorry we distracted you from your work!I will see about putting it up on Ravelry!xo Jaime

I squealed when I saw this and was thankful I don't share an office with anybody cause I sounded like a right loon! OMG! I'm going to make this soon! I received TARDIS and other Who-related items for Christmas because everyone know what a nut I am about that show and have been since 1972. I can't afford the licensed bags and Etsy, though wonderful, is too rich for my pocket most times. Thank you so much for posting this! I will send a picture when I complete it.

I am so saving this! Please, NEVER take this down. I freaking LOVE Doctor Who. My uncle used to find me the older ones and send them to me to watch when I was a teen. Four and Ten are my favorite Doctors. :D

I just started watching Doctor Who a few days ago and instantly fell in love. This TARDIS bag is making me fangirl so hard, I can't even explain to you how stoked I am to make this. Thanks for supplying the pattern!

I´m currently working on this as a B-Day present for a friend of mine who is nearly as crazy about Doctor Who as I am.I just have a (probably stupid) question: Line 83 on the LCB bag reads:R83: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 bpdc, 34 hdc, 2 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)now, if I do my maths I only get 58 st on this one...did the Daleks still the other 2?

I've now made 2 purses with this pattern, one a TARDIS for me, and a mickey mouse purse (for me lol) for our Disney trip next month! I just left out the F/BPDC and changed colors half way up the bag and sewed on yellow buttons for mickey's pants :)

Hi Briana! There are step-by-step photos in the center of this post that should help you out. It's after the pattern for the original bag, and the instructions are for the original bag, but the purse sized bag is made exactly the same way (it's just smaller). I know that part is confusing. Hope the pictures help.xo Jaime

Jaime, thank you-thank you-thank you so much! (And Kendra too!) I'm a major Dr. Who fan and this was absolutely brilliant! I made the bag and the purse for my two favorite Whovians (my nieces) and they freaked! It seems permanently attached to them, even when they sleep! I added a few personal touches including door handles and lock, pockets inside with one sized to fit sonic screwdrivers their dad made for them, plus personalized key chains. I just went crazy with it! That was my first time to knit pick and I was blown away, thanks for that! The lining I found really does make it bigger on the inside ;) Will send you pictures. I'm grateful beyond words...http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b302/x_eme_x/01.jpg

I have a question about assembly, that may not make sense. While making it I noticed that the 40 hdc section is only 10 rows wide, but on either side there are 10 hdcs, making a total of 20hdcs. So after sewing the sides and you go to sew on the bottom there would be 2 "side" hdcs for every 1 "bottom" hdc. This to me means the bag is not suppose to have "square" corners but rather is suppose to be kind of slouchy. Is this correct?

GREAT BAG! Made it for my nephews girlfriend for a Christmas present and am thinking about making the purse size for myself. One silly question though...

I'm wondering where you attach the button? I attached it while I had the bag inside out when sewing the sides and bottom so now it's on the outside of the back of the bag. To attach it on the inside would have stitches showing on the back of the bag unless there's some trick I don't know...